Nitrates order driven by politics — not science

THE Government should immediately suspend the implementation of the nitrates directive so that it can be amended to allow farmers time to be fully briefed on its implications.

The nitrates action plan provides for farmers to be prosecuted and liable to a six-month jail term if they fail to have proper documentation such as records of all feed and fertiliser purchased from merchants.

This is draconian legislation, and yet farmers have not been issued with any guidelines as to how to comply with the new rules.